HR1151 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1151 LRB096 22035 KXB 40387 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Tara Feldman, who passed away on April 9, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Tara Feldman was born on July 4, 1975 and was the loving mother of three children, Travis, Leo, Maya, and Kona the dog; the loving sister to Dustin, Mike and Kori; and the beloved daughter of Alan and Joyci Feldman; and

WHEREAS, Tara graduated from Butler Junior High in Oakbrook in 1989 and from Downers Grove North High School in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Tara's extensive academic background included a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University in addition to holding adjunct faculty status at Aurora University and Miami University of Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Tara launched her career in education and science as an intern at the Museum of Science in Boston and subsequently worked as a science and math teacher at a therapeutic high school, Beacon High School in Brookline, Massachusetts, and as a science editor at Pearson Prentice Hall and Scott Foresman; and

WHEREAS, Tara was an artist who loved to paint, draw, and create and was a self-proclaimed "science nerd" who enjoyed watching the Discovery Channel and learning about animals; and

WHEREAS, Tara was a remarkable young woman whose moral compass was pointed in the right direction: toward helping and inspiring people; and

WHEREAS, Through her work at the Chicago Zoological Society, Tara had a real and tangible impact in the lives of students with disabilities, Chicago Public School teachers, and young and aspiring biologists, scientists and conservationists; and

WHEREAS, Tara understood that the conservation movement must speak to and hear from all ages, ethnicities, educational and socioeconomic levels, and abilities; Tara developed award-wining conservation leadership programs at Brookfield Zoo around that notion; and

WHEREAS, Tara's initial work at Brookfield Zoo focused on the education and empowerment of students with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Because of her interest and experience in the special education field, Tara first worked at Brookfield Zoo as an instructor with "Every Student is a Scientist," an inclusive educational program for students with disabilities that utilizes interactive tablet PCs and hands-on learning activities focused on conservation; and

WHEREAS, Building off of her success with "Every Student is a Scientist," Tara worked with students with disabilities from Riverside-Brookfield High School, where she coached them on their soft skills and time management and then placed them in volunteer and employment positions at the zoo while showering them with love, praise and continued support; and

WHEREAS, Tara then paired up with another member of the Brookfield Zoo family, Agnes Kovacs and launched the Chicago Zoological Society's comprehensive science training program for Chicago Public School partners; and

WHEREAS, Tara not only launched the Levels of Engagement teacher training program, but nurtured and developed it into a national model that was conferred with a national education award from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and

WHEREAS, The Chicago Public School teachers and principals with whom Tara worked can attest to Tara's brilliance, creativity, and passion; and

WHEREAS, Tara went on to create the summer Science Fair Boot Camps, in addition to Science Fairs for Chicago Public Schools, to give Chicago Public School teachers and students the opportunity to improve their understanding and development in the inquiry process; and

WHEREAS, Tara helped re-shape and re-launch the Classroom Connections classes at Brookfield Zoo, having helped create over a dozen classes that were participatory, student-centered, and inquiry-based, with more than 20,000 students participating in these classes annually; and

WHEREAS, Tara worked tirelessly to make informal science leaning fun and accessible for all students, families and teachers in Chicago, working to expand the role of informal environments in educating students and adults about science; and

WHEREAS, Because of Tara, there are third grade students in Chicago who understand complex terms like "habitat restoration" and "deforestation" and who see themselves as conservation leaders; and

WHEREAS, Because of Tara, there are Chicago Public School teachers who have improved their ability to teach and reach students and improve science learning through inquiry-based teaching tools; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of Tara Feldman; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Tara Feldman as an expression of our sincere sympathy.